Maryland Announces Branding of Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund

Maryland Athletics

11-13-2013

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland Athletics has announced a reorganization of its athletic development office, highlighted by the rebranding of the Terrapin Club with the introduction of the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund.

The Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund, formerly known as the Terrapin Club, is the official support organization for Maryland Athletics. The mission of the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund is to generate private donations to fund the annual scholarship costs for Maryland’s student-athletes. By covering the costs associated with the annual scholarship bill – approximately at $11,000,000 – the department can reinvest other revenue sources in recruiting, operations, and other costs associated with its 20 sports programs.

“We need to tell our story better, and it is simply the right message for our annual giving efforts,” noted director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “At Maryland, we invest our gifts through the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund directly towards scholarships for student-athletes. They are WHY we do what we do.”

With an active advisory board, an evolving district and agents program, and unprecedented opportunities for rejuvenating its donor base, the timing to appropriately brand the efforts was unanimously approved by the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund Board at its November meeting.

“Fellow board members and I are often asked the purpose of the Terrapin Club, even by some long-term donors,” explained Marlene Feldman, Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund president. “We believe that by merely adding the words ‘Scholarship Fund’ to our existing name we maintain our familiar identity and better explain what we do.”

The Terrapin Club – founded as the Maryland Educational Foundation, Inc. in 1946 – was initially formed as a support club and social network for Maryland Athletics in four regions – Baltimore, Washington, the Western Shore, and the Eastern Shore. Baltimore and Washington actually had quotas of 50 each, while both shores had 25 each. To be certain, the Terrapin Club has evolved over the years. There is a more sophisticated governance structure, multiple donation levels, tangible and intangible benefits for donors, and appropriate athletics department oversight to ensure full compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.

“We are committed to a concierge-level approach to donor and prospect relations,” said Tim McMurray, senior associate athletics director/executive director of the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund. “In addition to appropriately branding our mission to assist in new donor acquisition, we will also be streamlining our operations and service levels to be more efficient, improve communication, and cast a wider net for student-athlete scholarship support.”

For more information on the Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund or to refer a prospective donor, please visit www.terrapinclub.com or call the office at (301) 314-7020.